THOUSANDS of teenagers were finally able to uncross their fingers yesterday as A-level results were released.

Their remarkable success comes as examiners point to rigorous studies by Ofsted and government advisers showing marking standards are being kept up.

Applemore College at Dibden Purlieu welcomed its first year of A-level results with a 94 per cent pass rate.

Every applicant for courses in higher education has secured their desired place.

Taunton's College in Southampton had its largest ever entry - 850 students - with pass rates exceeding 90 per cent in 24 subjects. The overall pass rate at Taunton's was just under the national average at 87 per cent.

The Atherley School at Nursling maintained its 100 per cent pass rate with 58 per cent of students scoring As or Bs, its best ever figure. Peter Symonds' College in Winchester has an overall pass rate of 94 per cent among its 890-strong roll.

Principal Neil Hopkins said: "1998 was an all-time record for us, and we thought we would have trouble matching it this year, but in the end our students have done extraordinarily well."

Eight Peter Symonds' students have scored marks in the top five in the county in one of their exams.

More than 90 per cent of the 700 A-level students at Itchen College have passed, with more than half scoring A to C grades. Twelve subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate.

Two students, Gavin Dillow and Kathryn Powell, had marks for A-level English Language placing them among the top five in the country.

There was a pass rate of more than 91 per cent at Brockenhurst College - its third consecutive annual rise. Seventeen subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate.

More than half the candidates in 13 subjects gained As and Bs, with 21 students scoring three or more grade As.

More than 40 per cent of students at the Godolphin School in Salisbury scored A grades with three gaining straight As in four or more subjects.

Of the school's 46 candidates, 32 took four or more A-levels, 83 per cent gained A-C grades, with 66 per cent gaining those grades at A or B.

Headmistress Jill Horsburgh said: "These are very pleasing results which demonstrate how successfully our students combine high academic achievement with the many cultural, sporting and social opportunities that are integral to sixth form life at Godolphin."

Students at Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh set a new record with a pass rate of 92 per cent. In 20 years, this has jumped from 70 per cent with a three-fold increase in the number of entries.

Principal Godfrey Glyn said: "This level of achievement is also a reflection of the foundations laid by the staff in our partner schools who can share in the delight of our students."

The 30 A-level pupils at Embley Park School in Romsey scored higher grades than last year with staff gauging their "value-added" performance at 120 per cent. Head teacher David Chapman said: "Every group of young people is different and we believe it's much better to look at how they have done against their own potential shown in their own GCSEs."

King Edward VI School in Southampton had an overall pass rate of 98.5 per cent among its 130 A-level pupils. A-grades accounted for 38 per cent, with As and Bs 65 per cent.

Head teacher Peter Hamilton said: "We're very pleased. These are the highest rates on record for us going back 20 years."

At Ballard College in New Milton, the eight candidates managed an overall pass rate of 88 per cent, up one per cent on last year.

Head teacher Paul Stockdale said: "Pupils and teachers have to be congratulated. To maintain that sort of pass rate year on year is very pleasing."

Portsmouth College had an overall pass rate of 90 per cent, with results equalling its success of last year. Fifty-one per cent of students gained A-C grades, and 16 subjects had a 100 per cent pass rate.

Dr Helen Harvey of St Swithun's School, Winchester, said: "The girls and staff have been rewarded for their enthusiasm and hard work by some outstandingly good achievements and the year group as a whole will, I am sure, be delighted with today's news."

At Totton College, students continued three years of above average results, achieving a pass rate of more than 90 per cent. Thirty-eight students passed four A-levels or more compared to 20 last year. Principal Mark Bramwell singled out graph-ic design student James Dashwood for particular praise. A cerebral palsy sufferer, he got a grade B.

For more results and reactions see your local edition of tonight's Daily Echo

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